The July LSU camp
has a history of bringing some of the nation's top athletes and this year's
event looks to do the same. The Tigers will begin the four-day camp Sunday. There are many things to look out for going in and if
this year is anything like years past, there will be a few surprises as well.

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune will
be on hand throughout the camp. In fact, the work has already begun. We have
compiled a fairly extensive list of names expected to turn heads this week as
well as some of the top story lines to follow going in. It should be an action
packed week so lets get things started.

FIVE-STAR LINEMAN ON HIS WAY TO BATON ROUGE: West
Monroe offensive tackle Cameron Robinson is the prize in a heated recruiting battle between LSU and Alabama right now. This week, the Tigers will have an opportunity to
sway the pendulum in their direction as Robinson is one of their top targets.
This one is hard to read, but Alabama appears to have a slight edge going into
this week.

Cameron Robinson shows elite talent, skillset.(Twitter.com)

At 6 feet 6, 320 pounds, Robinson would be a huge pull for the Tigers in
every sense of the word and they will stop at nothing to secure his signature
in February. This week will play a huge role as to how it will all end up on
National Signing Day.

COMMITMENT WATCH: There are many guys that could be on
the fence, but there are a select few that may be even closer. New
Jersey star wide receiver Saeed Blacknall has been very vocal about naming LSU
his leader and this week, he finally gets his chance to visit at camp. Expect
him to make his decision for the Tigers during that time. In fact, he may be
the first to come off the board.

Garrald McDowell
is one of the newer targets for the Tigers and he named them his leader at Nike's The Opening last week. The 6-foot-2, 255-pound terror is very fond of the program
and it wouldn't be a surprise at all to see him end his recruitment this week. Sources say he is a definite take at this point and the Tigers may push for it to happen
very quickly.

Barbe
receiver Trey Quinn is one of the premier receivers in the country and one of
LSU's biggest remaining uncommitted prospects. Expect him to arrive on Monday
and use his time to hang around some of the coaches and other prospects. A
commitment from Quinn may not be far down the road.

The Tigers
need multiple running backs out of this class and the name that has been talked
about most is John Ehret's Darrel Williams. This week Williams will have an
opportunity to work with LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson and if the two
seem equally drawn to each other, an offer and quick commitment is possible.
Not saying it is likely, just a situation worth watching.

BIG IN-STATE TARGETS EXPECTED TO VISIT: LSU has been aggressively pursuing
many of the same faces within the borders of Louisiana and many will be present
at different points throughout the week. Karr defensive lineman Gerald Willis
will be there Sunday and Monday, which should allow for some good one-on-one
time with the staff. He is the top defensive line target on their board.

Laurence "Hootie"
Jones is considered to be among the nation's elite safety prospects and LSU is
locked in on the impressive prospect. As is the case with a lot of their top
targets, the Tigers are wrapped up in a battle with Alabama for Jones' services.
Recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson has taken a large role in his recruitment,
but he will likely get it from all angles this week.

John Curtis
has a trio of prospects expected to attend with wide receiver Malachi Dupre
being the biggest name. Dupre will start his visit on Friday and will likely
wrap it up on Sunday. High profile teammate Kenny Young will be making the trip
on Monday and is likely to participate in activities once he arrives. Young is
one of the top linebackers on their board and the staff will likely gauge where
he is in terms of making his decision. Defensive back Mattrell McGraw is also
expected to attend camp this week and the 30-plus-offer prospect will be under the
watchful eye of the LSU staff.

Quentin GibsonTwitter

Shaw
quarterback Quentin Gibson is expected to attend after being pushed to do so by
LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. The Tigers have missed on some of their quarterback
targets and Gibson is one of the premier passers in the state so the plan is to
give him an honest look this week. At 6 feet 1, 190 pounds, Gibson hopes to put a
performance together that will force the issue a bit.

Leonard Fournette, the nation's prospect, is also expected to make an appearance at the camp.

Parkway 2014 quarterback Brandon Harris confirmed he will make a trip to Baton Rouge for the camp next week. Harris is scheduled to make his announcement on ESPN on July 18th with many believing it is a two team race between LSU and Auburn.

TIGERS MAKING A SOLID PUSH IN FLORIDA:
The Tigers landed
future star cornerback Rashard Robinson and talented defensive tackle Maquedius
Bain out of Florida last year and LSU is hoping to have that same type
of success in the Sunshine State in 2014. A big part of doing that
is getting those prospects on campus and the Tigers appear to have a solid group on the way
this year.

Champagnat
Catholic out of Hialeah, Fla. is sending a group of standouts with multiple
prospects having the ability to play at LSU. Safety Michael Johnson, a 2014 prospect, has
been a target of the Tigers for some time and both sides will finally get a
chance to spend some time together. He is currently committed to Louisville,
but he definitely has an affinity for the Tigers.

Johnson's
teammate Travonte Valentine is one of the best defensive tackles in the country
and the recent Miami Hurricane commitment is a huge want for LSU. He does have
some academic concerns, but has been aggressively improving his
academic standing. It will be interesting to see exactly what kind of impact
this visit may have on Valentine, but my guess is that it will be substantial.

The Tigers
will have the luxury of hosting one of Florida's five-star caliber receivers in
Champagnat 2016 rising star Darnell Salomon. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound phenom has been
turning heads of late and is lining up to be one of the elite receivers in
2016. Getting in on out-of-state players early is important and don't expect
the Tigers to let him leave without an offer.

The Florida
Fire 7-on-7 team is one of the premier clubs in the country and their coach, Dennis
Marroquin, is bringing a few of his top prospects to town this week. Michael Johnson plays for the Fire, but he will already be in attendance with
his high school team. However, the group that they are bringing is impressive.

Monarch
High School athlete Shawn Burgess-Becker, a 2015 prospect, has taken the spring camp circuit by
storm. The starting safety on his high school squad, Burgess-Becker played
wide receiver on the 7-on-7 circuit this spring and has been absolutely
dominant. LSU offered him shortly after Miami and Alabama and the Tigers
are solidly in the mix. He has aspirations of playing safety at the next level
and he grades out extremely high at both positions.

Accompanying
Burgess-Becker will be 2015 wide receiver and high school teammate Calvin Ridley.
While the 6-foot-1, 175-pounder hasn't received as much fanfare as his counterpart, he
is already garnering some serious college attention. He has offers from South
Florida, West Virginia and Cincinnati, among others. The Tigers should have plenty
of options at the position in 2015, but Ridley is certainly capable of drawing
an offer.

With the
Tigers having a recent decommitment from Florida linebacker Sharieff Rhaheed,
another spot has opened up at that position. Ely Blanche linebacker Terry McRae
is hoping to fill that spot. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker is the cousin of
2013 LSU signee Rashard Robinson and has always liked the Tigers. He has offers
from Miami, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Syracuse and Tulane with a commitment
to Miami very possible if the Tigers don't offer him this week. If they do
extend an offer, things could get really interesting.

When you talk
elite prospects in Florida for 2015 you have to mention Orlando star
Jacques Patrick. The Timber Creek High School prospect is a remarkable specimen
and after talking to his 7-on-7 coach on Thursday night, it looks like Patrick
will make it to town on Tuesday. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound running back played with
the Louisiana Bootleggers earlier this spring in a 7-on-7 tournament so he is
acclimated with a lot of Louisiana prospects.

A sleeper
defensive tackle will be traveling with Patrick in Freddie Booth-Lloyd. The
6-foot-2, 305-pound monster is very raw, but extremely quick and talented. He played
guard for Cocoa High School last year before moving to defensive tackle during
the last game of his junior campaign. Booth-Lloyd is on the radar of defensive line
coach Brick Haley and he will try to do what he can to push the Tigers interest
level into a whole new category this week.

POSSIBLE BATTLE AT FULLBACK: It remains to be seen as to whether
or not the Tigers will extend a scholarship offer for a fullback this year. It
is certainly part of the discussion, though. The two names on top of the board
are Karr linebacker Jaevon Walton and Biloxi High defensive lineman Raekwon
McClellan. Both will be at camp this week with Walton scheduled to attend on
Sunday and Monday and McClellan making the trip on Monday. If the Tigers take a
fullback, look at these two as the strongest candidates.

TWO ELITE ALABAMA UNDERCLASSMEN EXPECTED TO MAKE THE TRIP: LSU has a history of producing top flight defensive backs and as a
result, many of them want to hear from the Tigers. Minor High School
cornerback Maurice Smitherman, a 2015 prospect, is one of those kids. At 5-feet-10, 170 pounds, Smitherman has an impressive game that has already led to SEC offers by way
of Vanderbilt and Missouri with Baylor also joining the frey. The speedy
playmaker will look to earn an offer from the Tigers this week.

Traveling
with Smitherman is 2016 defensive back Jamerius Jordan out of Hoover High
School. He is also in the 5-foot-10, 170-pound range and has offers from Missouri
and Baylor. LSU hasn't had much success in Alabama in the past, but the
Tigers wouldn't mind changing that in the future. Getting these two prospects on
campus is a good start.

LOUISIANA'S BEST UNDERCLASSMAN WILL LOOK TO STEAL THE SHOW: There will be a plethora of younger Louisiana prospects in attendance
with many looking to earn offers. Wide receivers Daylon Charlot and Rhashid
Bonnette are two of the state's best and will both be in attendance this
week. If the Tigers were to offer either one, don't be shocked to see a quick
decision.

Holy Cross
2015 wide receiver Michael Chigbu has a ton of raw potential and he will put it
on display this week. He has yet to decide which day he will attend, but he
has told us that he does plan on being there at some point. Chigbu received a
visit from LSU recently and is under the watchful eye of recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson.

A talented
2015 duo from Acadiana are planning to make an appearance this week as
cornerback Malik Eugene and tight end Bry'Kiethon Mouton are planning to make
the trip. Euguene is the younger brother of LSU sophomore defensive back Micah
Eugene and is one of the better unknown prospects in the state. He is extremely
fast and has the ability to play on either side of the ball. He may enter as an
unknown, but he won't leave that way. Mouton is one
of the premier tight end prospects in the country and he will likely put on a
show this week. He isn't the tallest guy at 6 feet 2, but he is very thick and moves
extremely well. Look for both of these prospects to be under the watchful eye
of LSU coaches this week.

Rising junior running
backs Nicholas Brossette of University Lab, David Ducre from Lakeshore and Derrius
Guice from Catholic-Baton Rouge are three phenomenal prospects and all are
expected to attend camp. The Tigers will be faced with a tough decision if they
decide to only take two backs next year because all three are outstanding football
players. As it stands now, Ducre is the only one without an offer from LSU.

Impressive Mandeville offensive lineman Grant Burguillos visited LSU earlier this week and will be back for camp in a few days. At 6 feet 4, 280 pounds, he has great size and exceptional feet for a prospect his size. He will likely go through a gauntlet of tests in front of coaches and if all goes well, don't be surprised to see the Tigers extend an offer.

Hammond's Jeremy SmithStudentsports.com

SLEEPER ALERT: As reported last week, Hammond
athlete Jeremy Smith has caught the eye of LSU coaches and he will be there on
Monday. At 6 feet, 200 pounds, Smith has the size to play either running back or
linebacker, but he will most likely work out at running back on Monday. Look
for the Tigers to push him to work out at both positions to get a real good
look at him.

WHO IS MISSING: It is apparent the names Devante
"Speedy" Noil and his teammate Anthony Jones were not on the list. Noil has yet to confirm what his plans are and Jones opted to attend camp at Florida State this weekend. NOLA.com will monitor this fluid situation and
report on it as news becomes available.

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James Smith previously worked as a talent evaluator for Elite Scouting and Max Emfinger and has served on the selection committees of various high school All-American games. He can be reached at jsmith2@nola.com or 504.826.3405.